Lock for cigar or other boxes.



No. 679,030. Patented my 2 3, mm.

F. n. MITCHELL. LUCK FOR CIGAR OR OTHER BOXES.

(Ayplication filed Oct. 26, 1900.)

(Nd Model.)

A TTORIIE Y S UNITED STATES FRANK H. MITCHELL,

PATENT OFFICE.

on NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOOK FOR CIGAR OR OTHER BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 679,030, dated July 23, 1901. Application filed October 26, 1900. Serial No. 34,466. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. MITCHELL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looks for Cigar or other Boxes, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for locking boxes, and has for one object to provide a simple and efiective locking device which may be instantly and manually affixed to a cigarbox or analogous receptacle or package to lock the lid of the same against tampering with the contents, a further object of the invention being to provide such a device as can be removed from one box to another as desired.

The invention consists in the'novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like reference characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigar-box equipped with a locking device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a somewhat similar perspective view of the box with the lid partially open. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a box and lock taken from the end, the box being shown in section.

The improved lockin g device Ihave invent ed consists of two members, respectively adapted to engage the front of the body portion of the box and the lid thereof, the first member embodying, primarily, lock-casing A, and the second member an angular plate B.

The lock-casin g A is provided with any suitable lock mechanism, of which the latch a (seen in Fig. 2) is operated by a suitable key inserted through the keyhole b. The lockcasing A extends above the level of the front panel C of the box 0, to which it is secured and to or about the slightly-higher level of the end panels C and the upper portion of this lock-casing is provided with a central aperture 0 for access of a suitable looking-hasp to the latch 61.. Upon the rear of the lock-casing A is a horizontal flange d, which in actual practice rests upon the upper edge of the front panel C, and from this flange projects downwardly at right angles a vertical flange e, which engages the inner face of the said front panel C. In the lower portion of the lock-casing are slidably mounted two pins f, provided with heads f, by which they may be forwardly withdrawn and formed with suitable points f ,provided with annular ribs or flanges f to prevent their being wholly withdrawn from the lock-casing and which when the pins are pressed inwardly enter the wood of the front panel C of the box.

The upper member B consists of a flat plate provided upon its under face with four or any desired number of pins or sharp projections g, which are simultaneously pressed into the wood of the lid 0 of the box. This plate projects forwardly beyond the front edge of the lid 0 and over the upper portion of the lockcasing A and is provided with a downwardlyprojecting extension B, which when the box is closed'passes in front of and conceals the major portion of the lock-casing A, including the opening a and the movablepins f. The extension, however, is cut away at B so as to leave the keyhole B exposed. Upon the inner face of the extension B is a pin or projection h, which when the lid is closed will engage the latch a.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the advantages of my invention will be manifest to all, the device being constructed as hereinabove described or in such form as to comprise the operative elements and generically the attributes mentioned. When it is desired to apply the same to a cigar-box or other receptacle or package, this is done in the following manner: The pins f of the lock-casing A are drawn outwardly as far as possible and the lower member comprising the said lock-casing is slipped at any convenient point upon the front panel C of the open box in such manner that the vertical flange e will engage the inner face of the said panel and the horizontal flange (:1 will rest upon the inner edge thereof, which can be done without in any manner disturbing the contents of even a full box of cigars or other goods. The pins fare then pressed inwardly, so as to enter the wood of the front panel, whereupon the lower member or lookcasing is firmly secured to the box. The lid is then closed and the upper member of the device secured thereto by first placing this member in its proper position, so that the extension B projects in front of the lock-casing A in such proper alinement that the projection or pin it will be ready to engage the latch a, and the main portion or plate B is then pressed down upon the upper face of the said lid, so as to force the pins 9 thereinto and at the same time cause the projection or pin h to engage the latch and lock the lid in position,it being understood that the usual springlock is preferably employed.

Since the extension B is securely fastened to the lock-casing and the latter to the body of the box, the lid accordingly cannot be raised from its closed position, but is securely clamped in place, and the lock-casing cannot be removed from the box while the device is in the locked relation, as the pins fcannot be withdrawn, nor, in fact, can access thereto be had. By this means the contents of a cigar-box or the like can be preserved from access thereto by unauthorized persons, which, as is well known, is the cause of the loss of many valuable cigars by the owners thereof. The device cannot only be instantly applied to any box, but after one box is emptied can be detached and applied to another, which is a very valuable advantage in view of the fact that the different cigar-boxes contain the brands of the respective manufacturers and are not refilled when once emptied, but are thrown away. It would be expensive and in commercial practice practi cally impossible to supply all cigar-boxes with locks, like trunks or satchels; but by means of my invention each individual may possess himself of one locking device embodying my invention and apply it successively to each box of cigars which he may purchase thereafter, except, of course, those who constantly keep several or a number of different brands open at the same time, in which cases a corresponding number of the locking devices are needed. By reason of the pins 9 or means of manual connection of the upper member B with the box-lid this member will remain upon the lid when the latter is open, and therefore when once the lock is placed upon the box it never needs to be removed until the box is no longer to be used.

I desire it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction and arrangement of details hereinabove set out, as the device may be altered or varied within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A detachable locking device for cigar or other boxes or receptacles, comprising two separate members, one of which is provided with means whereby it may be manually affixed to'and detached from the body portion of the box, and embodying a lock-casing provided with a keyhole, and a second member adapted to engage the lid of the box and comprising-an angular plate, the lower portion of which is formed to fit over in front of the lock-casing to close and conceal all of the same except the keyhole thereof; and locking means upon the said angular plate adapted to engage the lock-casing when the lower portion of the plate projects in front of the said casing.

2. A detachable locking device for cigar or other boxes or receptacles, comprising two separate members, one of which embodies a lock-casing adapted to engage the body portion of the box and provided on its front face with insertible pins extending through the said member and adapted to be pressed inwardly to enter the wood of the box; and the other member being formed and adapted to engage or project over the lid of the box and provided with locking means to engage the lock-casing of the lower member and being also adapted to project over and conceal the insertible pins.

3. A detachable locking device for cigar or other boxes or receptacles, comprising a lockcasing provided with an inwardly-projecting portion adapted to engage over the upper edge of the box to prevent outward movement of the lock-casing, and being further pro vided with manually-insertible devices for connecting the said lock-casing to the box to prevent inward movement thereof; and a lid-engaging member provided with locking means for engaging the said lock-casing.

4. A detachable lock for cigar or other boxes or receptacles, comprising a lock-casing provided with movable pins adapted to be partially withdrawn, and to be projected inwardly to insert the same in the body portion of a box, and an upper member or plate adapted to project over the lid of the box, and provided with means for engaging the said lock-casing and formed and adapted to project over the front of the lock-casing and conceal the movable pins.

5. A device for locking cigar or other boxes or receptacles comprising a lock-casing provided with movable pins adapted to be partially withdrawn, and to be pressed inwardly to insert the same in the wood of the body portion of the box, and an upper member or plate adapted to project over the lid of the box, and provided with a downwardly-ranging outer extension carrying means for engaging the lock-casing, said extension being adapted to fit over and conceal the said movable pins.

6. A device for locking cigar or other boxes or receptacles, comprising a lock-casing, provided with movable pins adapted to be withdrawn, and to be pressed inwardly to insert the same in the wood of the body portion of the box, whereby to manually affix the looking device thereto and disconnect the same therefrom, and an upper member or plate adapted to project over the lid of the box,

and provided upon its under surface with pins whereby it may be manually affixed thereto, and. having a downwardly-ranging forward extension provided upon its inner face with a projection or pin adapted to engage the lock-casing, the said extension being adapted to rest in front of the lock-casing and conceal the movable pins thereof.

7. A device for locking cigar or other boxes or receptacles comprising a lock-casing provided rearwardly below the top thereof with a horizontal flange adapted to rest upon the top of the front panel of a cigar-box, and provided with a downwardly-ranging flange adapted to engage the inner face of the said panel, the said lock-casing being centrally apertured at the top thereof, and provided at one side with a keyhole adapted to be operated by asuitable key; movable pins secured in the said lock-casing and adapted to be partially but not wholly withdrawntherefrom and to be pressed inwardly to insert the same in the wood of the cigar-box; and an upper member comprising a plate adapted to project over and engage the upper face of the box-lid, and provided upon its under surface with a plurality of pins adapted to be inserted in the box-lid, the said plate projecting forwardly beyond the edge of the said box-lid and over the box-casing and provided with a downwardly-projecting extension carrying a projection or pin adapted to engage the lock-casing, the said extension normally resting in front of the lock-casing when the 3 5 box is closed, whereby to conceal the lockopening and the movable pins, and the said extension being cut out at one side to leave the keyhole of the said lock-casing exposed.

8. A detachable locking device for cigar or other boxes or receptacles, comprising a lockcasing, provided with movable projections or insertible devices adapted to engage the box whereby to be manually affixed thereto; in combination with a member or device adapted to be connected with the said lockcasing and so formed as to project over and engage the lid of the box when so connected to the lock-casing and being further formed and adapted to cover the manually-insertible devices when the device is locked and permit access to them when the device is unlocked.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 25th 53, day of October, 1900. v

' FRANK I-I. MITCHELL. lVitnesses:

C. O. OLSEN, F. A. STEWART. 

